WASHINGTON — Utah Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, reacted to the closure of the federal government on Wednesday to say it “empowers” President Donald Trump to make the spending cuts Republicans have long wanted — amounting to “Democrats’ worst nightmare.”
In an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Lee accused his Democratic colleagues of “deliberately” shutting down the government to score political points, but predicted it would come back to haunt them as Trump says he will defund programs that are aligned with Democratic priorities.
“Because Russ Vought, the OMB director, has been dreaming about this moment, preparing for this moment since puberty,” Lee said. “Russ Vought has a plan, and that plan is going to succeed in empowering — further empowering Trump. This is going to be the Democrats’ worst nightmare.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday the number of public employees fired could be “in the thousands.”
Trump announced on Thursday he would meet with Vought, who oversees how the government spends its money and how federal agencies are run, to determine which offices would be cut in the coming days as federal funding remains frozen. The talks come after Vought spoke with Republican lawmakers on Wednesday, hinting at upcoming cuts and layoffs.
Shortly after the shutdown took place at midnight on Wednesday, Vought has already canceled $8 billion in funding for green energy projects in 16 states as well as $18 billion in infrastructure projects in New York — directly targeting top congressional Democrats Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.
“I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not these cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Vought also directed agencies last week to prepare “reduction in force plans,” laying the groundwork for mass firings across the federal government. Those layoffs are likely to affect Democratic-aligned programs, as Vought specifically targeted jobs that are not “consistent with the President’s priorities.”
Lee’s comments come as the Senate has repeatedly failed to pass a spending bill this week. Democrats refused to support a Republican continuing resolution without major concessions on health care policy and assurances Trump won’t withhold congressionally approved funds.
The Senate will reconvene on Friday afternoon to vote on competing spending proposals, but both are expected to fail. Senators will then adjourn for the weekend, according to Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and will not return until Monday evening. That means Congress won’t vote again until the sixth day of the shutdown.